Baseball Prospectus found an interesting interview with Ted Williams from August 23rd, 1940. In it he’s asked who he would sign with if he were a free agent; Williams answered “the Dodgers” because he “knew he’d be a hero in Brooklyn.”

That was only two years into Williams’ career, but it got me to thinking out of all the stars prior to free agency, which one might be the most sought after if they had the opportunity? Tough question, but interesting to ponder.

I looked at some of the best players all-time and thought about where they stood in the game six years into their career. I would say Willie Mays would be the most sought after free agent.

Mays was 27-years old in 1958, which would have been his sixth year of service time. Ironically, it was the first year the Giants moved from the Polo Grounds to Candlestick Park.

He was coming off a year where he finished 2nd in the MVP voting, won a Gold Glove, and hit .347 with 29 HRs. He already had over 1,000 hits and 216 home runs. You would be paying for a complete player who manned a premium defensive position in centerfield.

Knowing how difficult the winds at Candlestick were, I predict Mays would have bolted San Francisco for a more hitter-friendly venue.

The big questions is would there a volume of bidders, or would racism from some clubs prevent them from signing a black man as a free agent? Impossible to know, but certainly a factor.

Some other candidates include the previously mentioned Ted Williams, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Lefty Grove.

Williams was two years removed from his military service so I wonder if team’s would be leery of giving him a big contract even thought he was still just 28. By his sixth full year Ruth was still just entering his career as a hitter. Don’t you think his active night life would scare off team’s giving him a big deal? Owners were notoriously cheap during that time as well.  I actually think Gehrig would be more in demand in 1930 when he would have been eligible.

As for pitchers, Lefty Grove had great numbers for the Philadelphia A’s during a period of heavy offense in the early 1930s.

Grove was 28-5 during his sixth season in 1930; the league averaged over 5 runs a game, yet his ERA that season was 2.54. He was, however, already 30-years old.

I don’t think there is a right answer. Let’s have some fun and tell me what you think.

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Tags: Babe Ruth, Boston Red Sox, Lou Gehrig, New York Giants, New York Yankees, Philadelphia A's, San Francisco Giants, Ted Williams, Willie Mays